Oldham

Oldham's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 220,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Oldham increased by 3.5%, from just over 217,000 to 225,000.

The addition of about 7,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Oldham was home to, on average, 11 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Oldham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Oldham increased by one year, from 36 to 37 years.

This multi-cultural area had a lower average age than the North West and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 4,200 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 5,000.

About 13% of people in Oldham are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Oldham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Oldham

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Oldham, but at a slower rate than across the North West.

In Oldham, the proportion of single people increased from 28% in 2001 to 33% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 30% to 36%.

Across the North West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 30% to 36%.

The proportion of married people in Oldham fell from 51% to 47%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner remained close to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Oldham saw the North West's third-largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55%) households in Oldham had no children, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child remained close to 34%.

Across the region, only Trafford (from 61% to 58%) and Blackpool (from 66% to 65%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households without children.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Oldham

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 17% said they had no religion. An increase from 9.5% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Oldham.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Oldham that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 160,000 in 2001 to just over 130,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 60%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from about 24,000 to just under 40,000 (from 11% to 18%).

About 12,000 people (6.5%) did not state their religion, down from just over 14,000 in 2001 (5.6%).

The population without a religion in Oldham increased by 7.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Oldham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Oldham

The percentage of Oldham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.7%, while the percentage of Oldham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.1% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 89%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Oldham

In 2011, 78% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. A decrease from 86% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Oldham.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Oldham from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 26,000 in 2001 to just over 43,000 in 2011 (from 12% to 19%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 2,500 to just under 4,100 (from 1.1% to 1.8%).

Just under 2,800 people (0.6%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 1,200 in 2001 (1.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Oldham decreased by 8.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Oldham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Oldham, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.3% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.5% to 15%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Oldham fell from 23% to 21%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 68% to 65%.

Private renting in Oldham increased by 5.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Oldham, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Oldham residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11% to 6.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Oldham residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Oldham decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Oldham, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Oldham residents that were unemployed increased from 3.7% to 5.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in two (50%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage of Oldham residents that were self-employed increased from 6.8% to 7.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Oldham increased by 1.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Oldham, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Oldham working less than 16 hours increased from 1.5% to 2.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 14 (7.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 10.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Oldham increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Oldham, the North West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Oldham, which comprised one person, remained close to 30% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.9% in 2001. The percentage of households in Oldham which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 37% to 33%.

The proportion of one-person households increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 31% in 2001 to 32% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Oldham residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.4% to 2.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, 1.6% of reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 2.4% in 2001 to 2.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Oldham remained close to 2.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Oldham by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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